Sentences

 

As important as Anselm is as the first of the Scholastics, his work did not become the standard textbook on which the Reformers of the sixteenth century cut their teeth.  That honor went to Peter Lombard instead, whose importance is difficult to exaggerate.

The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, by Matthew Barrett

In the past, theologians would craft their theology in the monastery.  This craft would soon enough take place in the university, where a theologian would be lecturing to the next generation of archbishops and archdeacons – as well as to the next generation of university lecturers.

Exegesis and theology: considered complementary and inseparable.  Students would attend lectures and read texts that would provide instruction in this.  Into this valley, Lombard would write commentaries on nearly the entire Bible, but his commentaries were dripping with theological reflection.

Eventually, many of the commentaries would become the foundation for his Four Books of Sentences: The Mystery of the Trinity; On Creation; On the Incarnation of the Word; On the Doctrine of Signs.  As much as the content, the method Lombard took in this work was of importance.

For example, regarding the coeternity of the Son, Lombard would begin by stating the church’s belief.  He would follow with the heretical Arian argument, following this with Augustine’s response and objection.  He would add Ambrose’s response, adding further authority.  On other topics, quotations from individuals such as Gregory, John Chrysostom, Origen, and Hilary of Poitiers would be included.

His reliance on church fathers in constructing his arguments wasn’t limited to quotations.  When quoting a father, he would include Scriptural commentary used by that father in defense of the position.  Therefore, Lombard constructed a patristic interpretation grounded in Scripture.

In the wake of Lombard’s Sentences, some of the most impressive theologians would write commentaries and give lectures based on Lombard’s work – Scholastics such as Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus, for example. 

And on the eve of the Reformation, the soon-to-be Reformers were writing commentaries and lecturing on Lombard’s Sentences just the same. 

Pointing to areas of significant agreement, Barrett would offer the examples of the Eucharist and Penance.  On the latter, one finds Lombard and Luther in quite agreement, noting that Luther’s original 1517 protest was not far removed from Lombard’s view – that “penance,” rightly understood, meant repentance – and certainly not tied to the indulgences as were practiced by the time of Luther. 

Lombard would write: “True penance is to sorrow in one’s soul and to hate vices.”  This easily could have been written by Luther as well.

Conclusion

Barrett notes that the Reformers differed with the Scholastics regarding redemption applied (imputed righteousness vs. infused righteousness).  However, there was significant alignment on redemption accomplished – the work of Christ as mediator on the cross.

For this, Barrett offers a brief examination of Anselm’s work, Why God Became Man.  Coincidentally (or maybe providentially), I have been reading and writing a bit on this topic lately as well (and have Anselm’s book waiting to be read once I finish with Athanasius’s work on the same question). 

The one who accomplished redemption had to be both God and man.  A quote, from Anselm:

“In order, therefore, that a God-man should bring about what is necessary, it is essential that the same one person who will make the recompense should be perfect God and perfect man.  For he cannot do this if he is not true God, and he has no obligation to do so if he is not a true man.”

On perhaps the most important theological consideration, there was no separation by the Reformers from this orthodox position.

Epilogue

Following Lombard, Barrett offers a brief trail that will lead to Aquinas, which he will address in the next chapter – a chapter that acknowledges the Reformers debt to the Scholastics, and specifically the Scholastic known to us as Thomas.

This will be my next chapter as well.